Nottingham Forest are reportedly looking to sign a new left-back to replace Oleksandr Zinchenko – just a few months after he signed from Arsenal.
Once a key player under Mikel Arteta, Zinchenko was told he had no future at the Emirates last summer, with Arsenal keen to sell the versatile Ukraine international.
Transfers to AC Milan and Fenerbahce collapsed before the 29-year-old secured a deadline day loan move to Forest, but he is finding life tough at the City Ground.
He was signed by Nuno Espirito Santo, only for the manager to be sacked a week later and replaced by former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglu.
Zinchenko started five of the Australian’s eight games in charge before he was brutally dismissed in October and has not played in the Premier League since, featuring just twice in the Europa League under Sean Dyche.
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While the left-back did spend a month on the sidelines with a groin injury, he has been available for selection for the last four league games, but was left out of the matchday squad for three of them.
Now, the Telegraph report that Forest have made signing a new left-back a top priority for the January transfer window, and with Neco Williams currently excelling in the position, Zinchenko may struggle even more for game time.
There is no option or obligation for Forest to buy the full-back, who can also play in midfield, permanently but there is also no recall clause in the contract, making an early return to Arsenal very unlikely.
Zinchenko’s contract with the Gunners expires next summer, leaving the Ukrainian, a four-time Premier League champion with Manchester City, with a very uncertain future.
Nevertheless, the Ukrainian is looking on the bright side. Speaking ahead of Monday’s match against Fulham, he said: ‘I feel amazing [at Forest]. It is a big club with amazing people around.
‘I must use this opportunity to say a massive thanks to all the fans for the warm welcome. I really feel I need to give much more to the club.
‘I don’t know [about my future] yet, we’ll see. We just need to go step by step and work hard.’
Following a chaotic start to the season, Dyche has steadied the ship, with Forest progressing well in the Europa League and winning four of their last six Premier League games, though they remain 17th in the table.
‘It is always better when you have results. Every single time we get some points, we are so excited for the next one,’ Zinchenko added.
‘We just need to go step by step and see where we finish. Every single game is very important for us. We are going to give our best to try to get the three points, which is what we want.
‘Every day we work so hard to get our fitness levels to the level they should be at. We all know that in modern football, you have to be fully ready. You have to be a great athlete first and then the rest that goes with it will come.’
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